Residents push for Southwest Augusta community center as commissioners debate parks and water-park financing

Parks & Recreation Director Williams presented line items totaling about $79,039,000 for facility revitalizations, park improvements and programming. The packet includes additional money for May Park (a $5,000,000 allocation) and a prior $5,000,000 seed contribution for a South Augusta Waterpark. Williams said some line items were reduced from initial requests and that a phased approach will be necessary because the current funding will not fully cover all desired work.

Commissioners debated moving a $10,000,000 community-center placeholder for Southwest Augusta into the overall facility-revitalization pot so the city could repair more existing facilities rather than build a new single gym or center. Commissioner Pulliam and others argued the community deserves its own center and urged keeping or combining the available funds to address both the community center and critical revitalizations.

Public comment: Two residents from Southwest Augusta spoke in favor of a new community center. Patricia Jeter asked commissioners not to remove the item, saying the area "doesn't have any type of facility" and that a center would bring jobs, programming and reduce crime. Myrna Reed Caulker seconded that plea and noted population growth tied to Fort Gordon/Cyber Command.

Riverwalk/boathouse: Commissioners also asked for design and cost estimates for a $22,000,000 Riverwalk and boathouse line item; staff said the allocation is primarily for planning and phased work rather than immediate, full construction without design work.

Outcome: No formal approvals were taken. Staff committed to provide more detailed cost and phasing information and to retrieve prior cost-analysis work on items such as the boathouse and Riverwalk before the January packet deadlines.